Nigerian weightlifters asserted their dominance in the weightlifting event at the ongoing 13th All Africa Games in Ghana on Tuesday, as two lifters won six more gold medals.
On Day 4 of the weightlifting event, Ruth Ayodele and Joy Eze won three gold medals each in their 64kg and 71kg classes, respectively.
Ayodele, making her debut in the continental games, overcame her fears with the hunger to make Nigeria proud in Accra.
She competed at 64 kg and won gold in snatch as well as clean and jerk.
She lifted 94kg in snatch, 144kg in clean and jerk, and a total of 208kg to claim all three gold at stake.
Eze was also exceptional in her 71kg category, as she won all three gold medals on display. She snatched 90kg, had 117kg in clean and jerk, and a total of 207.
The six gold medals have made it a total of 15 gold medals won by the weightliers in Accra.
Persecondnews recalls that the trio of Adijat Olarinoye (55 kg), Rafiatu Lawal (59 kg), and Edidiong Umoafia (67kg) all won nine gold medals in their respective classes on Monday.
So far, Nigeria has won a total of 20 medals in the weightlifting event, comprising 15 gold, two silver and three bronze.
Team Nigeria Weightlifters won a total of 50 medals at the 2019 Africa Games, with 16 gold, 16 silver, and 18 bronze medals. Optimism is high that the current athletes could surpass this record in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
The weightlifting event at the Africa Games, holding at the University of Ghana, will end on March 15, 2024.
Author
Leave a comment